Myricaria germanica (L.) Desv. subsp. alopecuroides (Schrenk) Kitam., Fl. Afghanistan 272. 1960. M. alopecuroides Schrenk in Fischer & C. Meyer, Enum. Pl.Nov. 1: 65. 1841. M. bracteata Royle, Ill. Bot. Himal. Mts. 1: 214, t. 144. 1835. M. germanica auct. non Desv., Dyer in Fl. Brit. India 1: 250. 1874.

Shrubs, 1 - 2.5 m high; branches erect, densely leafy. Leaves 1 - 6.5 (- 10) x 0.5 - 2 mm, ovate-lanceolate, ovate-oblong, linear-oblong or ovate, obtuse to subacute at apex, subentire to obscurely denticulate, slightly incurved. Racemes 2.5 - 18.5 (- 20) x 0.7 - 1.7 (-3) cm; bracts 4 - 9 x 2 - 6 mm, trapezoid. Flowers pink, purplish-pink or pinkish-white; pedicels 1.5 - 3.5 mm long. Sepals 3 - 6 x 1 - 2 mm, ovate, ovate-lanceolate or oblong-ovate, acute to obtuse at apex, denticulate to subentire, subequal. Petals 5 - 7 x 2 - 3.5 mm, obovate, obovate-spathulate or oblong-obovate. Stamens connate to 1/2 - 3/4 of their length; free part of longer filaments 1 - 2.5 mm long, of shorter 0.5 - 2 mm long. Ovary 3.5 - 7.5 mm long. Capsules 0.7 - 1.2 cm long. Seeds obovoid, ellipsoid or oblong-ellipsoid, 1 - 1.5 mm long, beak 1 - 1.5 mm long; coma 4 - 5 mm long.

Fl. May - July; Fr. July - Sept.

Distrib. India: On sandy river beds, stream borders and valleys between 1500 and 4200 m. Jammu & Kashmir(Kashmir), Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh (Garhwal).

Pakistan, Afghanistan, China (including Tibet) and E. Russia.

Notes. The branches are used as fodder for sheep and goats and the wood as fuel.

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